Nicole Kidman has spoken out about her Vanity Fair cover which sparked backlash when it was released in February.
The Big Little Lies actor appeared on the magazine in the midst of awards season, when the magazine is typically adorned with images of celebrities dressed to the nines in preparation for the celebratory events.
Rather than an exquisite ball gown, Kidman featured on the cover wearing a matching Miu Miu mini skirt and crop-top, posing between two golden gates.
The image prompted many internet users to share criticisms, with some drawing attention to Kidman's outfit while others condemned what they claimed to be extreme editing of the image.
"This "photo" of Nicole Kidman doesn't even look like a photo of a human. Looks like a drawing. This...isn't what people look like, and it's definitely not what Nicole Kidman looks like," one person wrote, while another commented: "This cover is disturbing on many levels but most of all the promotion of ‘teen as fantasy’ look."
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More than three months on, Kidman addressed the cover during a new conversation with director Baz Luhrmann published by Vogue Australia, in which Luhrmann said he 'loved' the cover.
In response, the actor revealed she had specifically requested to wear the matching Miu Miu outfit, saying: "I showed up and they had another outfit for me and I was like, ‘No, no, I like this one! Am I allowed to wear that?’ And [the stylist] Katie Grand, who’s just fantastic, was on Zoom, and Katie was like "You're willing to wear that?!’ And I said, ‘Wear it?! I’m begging you to let me wear it!’"
Kidman went on to admit she later had second thoughts about the cover, but quickly got over her doubts and focused on being true to herself.
She commented: "I mean, I did walk away when I shot Vanity Fair thinking, ‘What was I thinking?! That was ridiculous! What were you doing, Nicole?!’ And then I went, ‘Eh, oh well!’... 'I’m just going to do what I want to do, ultimately!’"
Kidman explained she wanted to 'just have some fun' alongside committing to her projects when she takes them on.
"There’s got to be some fun. And sometimes it’s going to work, and sometimes it isn’t. But I love the idea of being bold and not fitting into a box," she explained.
Though a lot of people weren't impressed with Kidman's Vanity Fair cover, many fans also stuck up for the actor and described her as looking 'amazing' in the image.
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Emily Brown